The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-11
A Warning From Dawes.

Senator Dawes, OF Massachusetts,, has been
telling the Paper Manufacturers Association at
Saratoga that the tariff is the only salvation of
the paper industry in the United States. He told
his auditors just what they wanted TO hear.-Phil-
adelphia Times.
This wasn't all Senator Dawes told
the paper makers, nor is it the most
significant of the things he told them,
though it may suit papers of the lean
ing of the Philadelphia Times to have
their readers think otherwise.
He told them that there was an
alarming danger seen in the accumu-
lation of vast surplus in the Treas
ury of the United States, and that
something must be done to check its
growth. Revision of the tariff was in
evitable, and no matter how devoted
the people might be to protection, as
an idea. the law cannot safely be made
to provide for any more revenue than
the lust requirements of the public eX-
penditure.
Having gone thus far the Senator
proceeded to say:
In reaching this the protcctlonist would place
duties on articles produced at home and thereby
encourage and stimulate home protection instead
of the foreign The Tree-trader would reach The
same limit by collecting that revenue without
regard to home production, from articles on
l. hos
sumption by our people is necessity. But the
limit is the me with both, and that limit is the
public expenditure.
Now that limit Is already passed. The revenue
to-day greatly exceeds the expenditures, and has
so exceeded them for u long time. The excess is
accommodating at rate OF 81. U,C00, 600 year. The
last of the public debt that is due before 1891 has
been called in, anu there is no way of paying out
| a dollar of this excess 1t must go on accumu.
lating In the Treasury, and remain locked up
there until Embossed by legislation. That hoard
ing OF idle money in the Treasury Will, at the
present rate exceed S4OO 600 before 1884, if its
withdrawal from the currency does not itself pro-
duce business disaster. 1t is already creating
alarm in business circles and at the Treasury. No
one can measure the serious consequences OF its
continuance.
The only remedy short of such business con-
vulsion as Will stop importations as well as home
production Is in a revision and reduction of the
tariff duties and internal revenue taxation. Such
a revision, looking only to the revenue, has come,
therefore to be necessity, confronting every one,
whatever his theory as to the method and purpose
of custom duties. To those who are for protec-
tiona we'll as for revenue, have presented 9TH
er considerations connected with the great indus.
trial interests of the country which makes re-
vision equally imperative.
This is very significant language. 1t
is that of lifelong Republican and a
CONSTANT advocate of high tariff.
When such d man says that the tariff
must be revised and reduced, says it
to an organization of gentlemen who
are themselves believers in and profit
ers by high tariff, and offers such
sturdy, common sense proofs of the
correctness of his position, is it not
about time for Republicans to let up
on their silly free trade bugabOo and
come down to business on thequeStion?
Dawes was talking practically to prac-
teal men. The average Republican
high tariff shrieker talks in partisan
strain for a partisan purpose.